NFL Media releases 2011 Wal-Mart incident report involving Dez Bryant

Posted by Mike Florio on February 26, 2015, 8:49 AM EST

AP

In November, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media rattled off a laundry list of occasions when police were called to the home of Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant. The raw number of incidents — six — was troubling. But the content of each specific instance showed that, in isolation, they were nothing.

As mentioned last Friday, February 20, when I inadvertently let the cat out of the bag regarding the previously worst-kept secret among reporters covering the NFL, Rapoport’s overhyped Dez Bryant rap sheet was the result of a chase for a much bigger prize: The long-rumored video of an incident involving Dez Bryant doing something he shouldn’t have been doing.

Since Friday, much has been written and said about the rumored Dez Bryant video. As it turns out, the NFL was in possession of relevant evidence on the subject several days before I blurted out the existence of the rumor on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

In a letter dated February 17, the City of Lancaster, Texas police department produced to NFL Media via the Texas Public Information Act an incident/investigation report from July 2011 regarding a police response to the Lancaster Wal-Mart.

The report mentions that an unknown person called the police to explain that a black female was “being dragged from one vehicle to another vehicle” by a black male. The vehicle the woman was dragged from was a Mercedes registered to Dez Bryant.

When a police officer responded, a Wal-Mart security guard explained that he arrived at the scene with the door to the Mercedes still open and a child’s toy on the ground, but that no one was present. Then, two men pulled up in an Escalade registered to Dez Bryant. The two men, Carl King and Christopher Mitchell, said they received a call from the alleged victim, asking them to pick up “her” Mercedes.

Then, a Bentley arrived in the parking lot, with the alleged victim and Dez Bryant inside. The alleged victim claimed that she had an argument with a man named Alex Penson, that she was not assaulted or injured in any way, and that it was “just an argument” with Penson. The alleged victim claimed she was dropped off at a friend’s house, and that she contacted Bryant to pick her up.

The responding officer determined after talking to all parties that there was no offense, and that everyone was free to go.

The report doesn’t mention the availability of Wal-Mart surveillance video, or the contents of it. Instead, it appears that the responding officer accepted the version(s) supplied by King, Mitchell, Bryant, and the alleged victim, and closed the case.

Most if not all Wal-Mart stores have surveillance cameras blanketing the property. Indeed, the longstanding rumor making the rounds among NFL reporters has been not just that an incident occurred at a Wal-Mart parking lot, but that there is video of it.

In digesting the report, keep this in mind: The report makes no mention of the car to which the victim was allegedly dragged. The video may show the other car. The video may show the person doing the dragging, if dragging actually happened. The video may show whatever preceded the dragging of the woman from “her” Mercedes to another car. The video may show the other car driving away.

Eventually, the video is coming out. In the interim, Bryant, Carl King, Christopher Mitchell, Alex Penson (whoever he is), and the alleged victim can expect to be pursued by members of the media for more details regarding what did and didn’t happen in that Wal-Mart parking lot.

Florio appreciate you releasing this information but you and media initial rumor mongering was/is pathetic. You owe Bryant an apology for insinuating he was some how involved in something “5 times” worse than the Ray Rice video. Pathetic.

Wouldn’t it be great if the media had other tings to do? Focusing on something that happened 4 years ago, with no crime reported, just to slander a human being is a sign that someone is either bored or just plain sick.

This is flat out irresponsible “journalism.” He might be guilty of something, he might not. The fact that you’ve thrown this story out to the wolves without all the information means the guy is convicted regardless of what actually happened. Media needs to practice pumping the brakes.

Heard about this on the radio this AM. So far, there is literally NOTHING to fault Dex Bryant for in this story. Until that video comes out that shows it was actually DB dragging her out of the car, then they got NOTHING.

I wonder how long Wal-Mart keeps their surveillance video for? If the responding officer determined there was no offence then he would not have asked for the video (unless that part of the report is not totally true). 3 to 4 years is a long time to keep video saved without a reason. Archiving video costs money and we all know that Wal-Mart is not about spending money.

So far it sounds like a woman was being dragged away from a Mercedes that she was claiming was hers when it wasn’t. Of course more facts will come out but so far sounds like thirsty NFL reporters trying to get a story out of a non story

If the video shows something serious done by Bryant, you know for sure the NFL front office is really going to lay the hammer down on Bryant. This is ridiculous, first Rice, next Peterson, and maybe Bryant. The NFL would have no choice. Multiple game suspension or even more so if the video shows something more disgusting. Hello Dez, meet AD, AD meet Dez.

Isn’t this the reason he was assigned special monitoring by the team? I mean we are bringing up something 4 years old, doesn’t this show he has changed his life and grown up? Everyone has a different maturation process.

For all you folks jumping to criticize the reference to “5x worse”…
I suspect that there are folks who already have SEEN the video and are (for legal reasons) not saying anything yet.
I think everyone should just calm down about this until more is known.
Might be the Dez story is true and he didn’t have anything to do with it. Or it’s quite possible that he was the main player in the incident and maybe struck the woman “5” times.
The fact that so many “rumors” are floating around makes me think there is some fire related to this smoke.
But really… making conclusions on guilt or innocence at this point is pretty silly.

Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Wait! A 4 year old incident that the NFL knew about and clearly theorized that Dez did nothing wrong.

What does this have to do with the present day? If there is no documented progression of bad behavior then it’s clear that the Cowboys intentionally leaked information about this video to leverage other teams against signing Bryant in order franchise tag him.

There’s a lot of folks on here blaming the “media” for failing to use due diligence on this story. Sorry, but the people who make up “the internet” are largely to blame as well. Adam Schefter and others have been sitting on this story since November, and we’re just hearing about it this week? Sounds like lots of media types were pretty careful about keeping mum while the facts were gathered. It’s only been recently that the owner of the video created this frenzy by releasing teaser pics and offering the video to the highest bidder.

People, you’re all missing the REAL question, and that is… Did Dez have CONTROL of the woman; two feet in-bounds, while making an “assault move” prior to dropping her? Was he down? Did his elbow or knee hit prior to the Escalade pulling up? These are the real questions!!!

I’m not sure why anyone thinks that a video still exists. Usually those camera’s record on hard drives that get recorded over after a certain length of time, so it’s probably not available. Plus, if it’s been 4 yrs since then, even if a video surfaced, it would be basically a witch hunt for the NFL to punish Dez now, since the statute of limitations is over, and the cops deemed that there wasn’t anything to it at the time. None of the reports I’ve read have even said Dez was there until he arrived in the Bentley, so you are assuming that he is the person doing the dragging, and that’s just not right to assume it was him with no proof. This is something that probably should never have been reported at all if it wasn’t reported in 2011 or at least 2012, very irresponsible journalism in my opinion. Dez has had his share of issues, but recently seemed to have grown up some, and yet you want to drag him back down. SMH

This just does not add up. If Wal-Mart surveillance video existed, if would have popped up prior to this point, much in the way the Ray Rice video did, when sent to the police. Highly unlikely that Wal-Mart or any employee who stole this tape is offering this tape up to the media for the highest bidder. More likely this video is a private video, that someone close to Bryant has and is using it for their pay day. Tape now has highest value, with contract negotiations ongoing and bids from Bryant/Cowboys and media outlets. Should Bryant be able to keep this tape from the public, he still has a problem with a person of this character, deciding they want another pay day some time down the road.

This might explain alot of the Adrian Peterson deal. Everyone knows he wants to play in Dallas but they wouldn’t be able to afford him. Because of that he was publicly open to remaining a Viking but then his mood changed suddenly to not being comfortable which was then followed up with his dad saying the door isn’t closed. Now this comes out. Coincidence? I don’t know… something just doesn’t smell right. Seems like too much action/reaction from Peterson which might be swaying in the wind from the Cowboys. If Dez is implicated, suddenly there may be money.

This happened in 2011. If there’s any wrong doing, and they are just now deciding to try to seek ” justice ” whoever sat on this for over 3 years should be brought up on charges of obstruction of justice.
This has a very bad smell to it, and I sincerely hope the whole story comes out…especially why it’s taken this long to bring it to the light of day.

I understand it’s his money and he can spend it anyway he sees fit but, but a Mercedes, an Escalade, and a Bentley (those are the only ones we know about); no wonder so many athletes are broke after their careers.

All I get from this so far is Dez spends his money on cars, and lets other people drive his cars under his insurance and to his enormous financial responsibility and liability, which is in no way weird…if they’re your wife or kids.

Well, this is non-issue. The Cowboys , through Stephen Jones have affirmed that they have never heard of a video for this event The NFL would never survive having another organization try to cover up and lie about a potential domestic abuse so soon after the Ray Rice situation. There can;t possibly be a video bc the Cowboys have asserted that there is not.

For all the talk of him being a bad guy–there is no evidence of him actually doing anything. I know cops and state highway patrols that have dealt with him. In every case, they said he was calm, polite respectful–even when he was doing something boneheaded like driving without a license. He did not hit his mother–her shirt was torn while he was attempting to keep her from hitting him. All of you name calling, making up stuff, taking giant assumptive leaps–you all realize these are real people’s lives you are part of bringing down. I hope it happens to you. 99% of those who post on here would be crying for mama and screaming foul play over the very slightest of infractions. Lies, cowardice, loser behavior. That is what you are all about. I can only assume it is how you were raised to be.

Video from four years ago of someone dragging a woman from one car owned by Bryant to another car owned by Bryant? Is Bryant the person doing the dragging? If so, is there footage of what took place prior to him dragging her? I have more questions now than I did before.

Ok so since the NFL knew this existed why did it not get brought up at the time it happened? Why is it that the NFL is allowed to get off when they’re obviously releasing this to make themselves look better in light of the Ray Rice thing.

Looks like the previous concerns of more extortions cases with Goddells new policy are coming to light.

Somebody is trying to get paid from this video.

Even if this video is worse than the Rice there is no way Dez should be suspended unless this case re-opens and Dez is charged.

If Goddell suspends Dez for something that happened years ago because it was an attack against a female then he should also suspend Peyton for his incident at Tennessee, Google Manning athletic trainer Tennessee.

This happened in 2011? It’s obviously a serious thing, but unless Dallas knew about it and covered it up, then it’s probably nothing. If a video shows up of him dragging the woman, he’s probably screwed.

This happened four years ago.
This happened at a time when all of Dez’s actions were monitored and scrutinized by the media, ownership, and particularly Cowboys fans who did not want any more criminals signed on by Jerry.
This also comes at a slow point in the off season, so it’s something the media can chew on.
Oh, and it just happens to be a Dallas Cowboy, and everyone seems to love to hate on a good “controversial” Cowboys story every year (this is in large part due to Jerry).
It also comes at a time during negotiations. Just in time for ownership to talk trust and value with Dez. Coincidence? I think not. In the world of money, there are no coincidences. This applies to sports, and the real world.

If it was Dez Bryant who did the dragging since this was in 2011, that judge just ruled we must implement the NFL’s previous policy. So looking up my NFL handbook of what to do when a NFL player forcibly drags a woman across the floor of any public place … it says … to do absolutely nothing.

There you have it, Dez shouldn’t miss any playing time! Whew, that was a close one!

Well the original speculation and rumor told me that it was 5 times worse than Ray Rice. New information is not welcome, I’ll stick with this and assume he is guilty. I mean, he does have a “culture of interacting with police”.

Inferring from the information provided, it sounds like Dez sent them after her. She was dragged from on vehicle to another, which then fled the scene with said victim inside.

Coincidentally, Bryant returned to the scene with in another vehicle with said victim in the car.

At the end of the day, he should pray that the video doesn’t come to light. Because if this does by chance go to trial, and he gets a judge who doesn’t see things from his pov he could be facing kidnapping, coercion, or some other charges, depending on the statue of limitations.

Being “dragged” could have several meanings – like being dragged by the hair, or maybe just being dragged (pulled) by her elbow. There could have been little or no resistance, or she could have been screaming and yelling for help.

It’s amazing to me that noone has thought to wonder about the drug angle. Say for instance, Dez’s family is attempting to use drugs and is “dragged” away from the dealer. It’s not out of the realm of possibility and i say this as a diehard Redskins fan. Until someone accuses HIM of doing something wrong this just smacks of character assassination.

I’ve never heard so much talk of a video and there’s no video. Is this Yahoo? Video and media are going to make these college kids walk the straight and narrow. All because TMZ put out a video. I don’t see what the big deal is with Dez? It’s not like he killed anyone. Fascinating all of this happens after the Hernandez murders. I told you Goodell and the refs are in Kraft’s pocket. Biggest cheating garbage sports team in history. I’ve been saying it for years. Don’t forget to polish the mirror Patsy fans.